FROM poultry farmer to local politician, man of the people and now Member of the British Empire – Ray Howard has most definitely earned his “Mr Canvey” moniker – tenfold.
Last week the veteran councillor was named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to local government and for his dedication to serving the Canvey community for almost half a century.
Ray, 75, has served as a county, borough and town councillor, since he was first elected to the Canvey Island Urban District Council in 1968 as a 26-year-old.
He was later elected to the County Council in 1985 and retired in May this year but will remain a borough councillor until May 2018.
Starting out as an idealistic young representative, he recalls: “Those days were so different.
“There weren’t many cars around on Canvey and the island’s roads were largely unmade.
“We didn’t even have much sewage infrastructure, it was more of a ‘bucket in a bin situation’.
“Then, of course, we had the terrible floods and I became galvanised into wanting to help improve the infrastructure of the island – the roads, the sewage, the flood defences and everything.
“I’m glad to say I think I did play a big part in achieving that.
“In those early days it was a challenge to get things done but we did go onto lead the way in many areas. I remember Canvey was the first borough to get the new orange street lights while our flood defences were - and remain - renowned amongst other counties.”
Ray is no stranger to honours. In 2014 a road on the island was named after him -Howards Way. He says this came as a bit of a shock. “I gave the developers a hard time because I made a fuss about not wanting oil tankers roaring past the local primary schools so I thought they really didn’t like me, then they named the road after me so perhaps I wasn’t as much of a nuisance as I thought.”
In 2013 Ray also received an Outstanding Lifetime Achievement award from then Prime Minister David Cameron for his work.
Now the MBE is the cherry on the cake. He said: “To receive this sort of recognition is very humbling. I’m not the only one working for the people of Canvey, not by far, but I’m very touched by this honour.”
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